Perth hotel news

From boutique to big, a raft of new luxe hotels is set to open in Perth.

May 27, 2014 2:00pm

By Max Veenhuyzen

Ritz-Carlton, Perth

From boutique to big, a raft of new luxe hotels is set to open in Perth.

Travellers to Perth rejoice: the city's oft-discussed bed shortage will be eased as more than 1000 new hotel rooms open in the next five years.

The first newcomer will be Alex Hotel, a 74-room boutique property due to open early next year on William Street, Northbridge. The first hotel to be built in the suburb in more than a decade, this six-storey property is aiming to appeal to urban explorers looking for boutique stays. There will be a rooftop terrace with enviable city views, hip in-house food and drink options and communal areas designed to encourage guest interaction.

Room service, however, won't be on the menu. "You're in Northbridge. Other than our own restaurant, there's plenty of places to go out," says Miles Hull, one of the partners behind the venture. "We want to attract guests who are interested in the neighbourhood they're staying in."

Currently under construction is a riverside precinct called Elizabeth Quay. It's another neighbourhood to watch, not least because Ritz-Carlton has chosen the site for a hotel scheduled to open in 2018, which will mark the luxury group's return to the Australian market after 17 years.

Also on the Swan River will be DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront, a 241-room property due to open in 2016. The Westin Perth, meanwhile, will open in 2017 at the former FESA House site on Hay Street. And at the casino, the $645 million, 500-room Crown Towers development remains on track for a 2017 opening.